BARC Wk 22: Republic TV maintains lead as landing page issue looms

Arnab Goswami’s independent global media venture, Republic TV, continues to top the English News channels space as per BARC data for Week 22 (May 27-June 2) of 2017 [All India (U+R) : NCCS AB : Males 22+ Individuals]. Republic TV has garnered a gross viewership of 979. It may be recalled that the channel had secured a gross viewership of 2,117 in its first week of operations with a 52 per cent share of the viewership pie. 

It may be noted here that data for English news channels is not available for all days of Week 21, when they had decided to pull out of BARC and remove the watermarks following the Council’s refusal to heed to the News Broadcasters Association’s (NBA) request not to release the viewership data of Republic TV till the issue of use of multiple LCNs was resolved. 

Republic TV is ahead in All Day/ All Time Bands as well as in Super Prime Time across India 1 million+ and Megacities [NCCS AB : Males 22+]. The channel has reported 680 GTVTs and 42.91 per cent market share in All Day/ All Time Bands in India 1 million+ cities and 585 GTVTs and 42.92 per cent market share in Megacities. 

In Super Prime Time, Republic TV has secured 285 GTVTs and a market share of 56.6 per cent in India 1 million+ cities, while in Megacities the channel had garnered 269 GTVTs and 58.6 per cent market share. 

Commenting on his channel’s consistently strong performance, Vikas Khanchandani, CEO, Republic TV, said, “Our consistent No. 1 position reaffirms the choice of the viewers in the country. Republic TV stands for credibility and unbiased approach in bringing news and reportage to the viewers through independent journalism. Our content, combined with the team’s relentless efforts, will continue to bring the best experience in the news and current affairs space.”

Meanwhile, Times Now is placed second with a gross viewership of 662 in Week 22 in Rural+Urban. The channel has recorded 512 GTVTs and 32.3 per cent market share in All Day/ All Time Bands in India 1 million+ cities and 466 GTVTs and 34.2 per cent market share in Megacities. 

In Super Prime Time, Times Now has secured 120 GTVTs and a market share of 23.7 per cent in India 1 million+ cities, while in Megacities the channel had garnered 110 GTVTs and 23.9 per cent market share. 

India Today Television is a distant third, securing a gross viewership of 292 in Week 22 in Rural+Urban. The channel was placed third in All Day/ All Time Bands as well as in Super Prime Time across India 1 million+ and Megacities. With a market share of 10.1 per cent, India Today Television garnered 160 GTVTs in in All Day/ All Time Bands in India 1 million+ cities, while in Megacities the channel’s market share stood a 9.6 per cent and GTVTs of 132. 

NDTV 24x7 was placed fourth in Week 22, garnering a gross viewership of 279. In All Day/ All Time Bands in India 1 million+ cities, NDTV 24x7 reported GTVTs of 98 and a market share of 6.2 per cent. In Megacities during the same time band, the channel was placed fifth with a market share of 5.1 per cent and had secured 70 GTVTs. NDTV 24x7 was placed fifth in 1 million+ cities in the Super Prime Time Band as well, garnering 18 GTVTs and a market share of 3.5 per cent. In Megacities, the channel was ranked fourth with a market share of 5.9 per cent and 27 GTVTs. 

CNN News18 was ranked fifth in Rural+Urban in Week 22, garnering a gross viewership of 251. The channel was placed fifth in India 1 million+ cities as well in All Day/ All Time Bands, where it secured 92 GTVTs and had a market share of 5.8 per cent. In Megacities, CNN News18 was placed in the fourth spot and reported 71 GTVTs with a market share of 5.2 per cent. In the Super Prime Time Band, the channel was ranked fourth in India 1 million+ cities with a 6.7 per cent market share and secured 34 GTVTs. In Megacities, the channel was placed in the fifth spot, garnering 13 GTVTs and a market share of 2.8 per cent.